Flirting, fighting and texting driving motorists to distraction

Published on Sunday 24 July 2011 15:19

THE average British motorist will own 26 cars, cover nearly 300,000 miles and exceed the speed limit 18,165 times during their driving lifetime, according to a new survey.

The findings emerged in a detailed study of 2,000 drivers, which unveils their motoring habits over a period of 61.5 years.

From the age of 17, motorists will spend much of their daily lives commuting in the car, ferrying people around and conducting their social life.

As such, they will visit the local garage to fill up with fuel at least 2,645 times, and get the car fixed 31 times.

The study shows the average motorist will be lucky enough to drive someone to a date up to 15 times over their driving lifetime, and will flirt with other drivers on 68 separate occasions.

But even more impressively, they will share 1,210 kisses with partners across the 61.5 years.

Unfortunately, though, not everything goes well for couples in the car - as the average driver will argue with their other half 3,646 times and will end up sleeping in the car 39 times.

When it comes to commuting, car owners will sit in traffic jams an incredible 9,348 times for the equivalent of 100 days, 21 hours and seven minutes.

During this time they will refer to the satnav for directions 4,539 times, but will also get lost 336 times.

Driving a car comes with its risks - as the research suggests. The average motorist will have 81 near misses over the years, but will be involved in up to 35 minor accidents such as bumps and scrapes, driving into the back of someone or dinging someone's car.

They will also break down at the side of the road 13 times, and endure 15 flat tyres.

The survey indicates that driving is not the only thing people get up to in their cars. Other activities include eating (1,093 times), spilling drinks (306 times) and checking the mobile phone for calls (2,337 times) or texts (1,292 times).

People will also cry in their car for various reasons 82 times, and apply their make-up or brush their hair 363 times. Motorists will also listen to the radio for the equivalent of 376 days, 11 hours and two minutes of their life, singing along on at least 4,879 occasions.

Car maintenance such as checking oil, water levels and tyre pressure will take place at home 234 times, as will filling up the screen wash 205 times, and replacing accessories, such as windscreen wipers, 39 times.

John Miles, business development director at Gocompare.com, which conducted the research, said: "The study is a real eye-opener, as not only does it give us an in-depth account of the average motorist, it also reveals the impact of having a driving licence.

"Being able to drive a car involves so much more than just getting from A to B - as most folk conduct a lot of their other business in the car.

"Ferrying people around on dates, applying make-up, checking the telephone, crying, listening to music and kissing are just some of the other things motorists get up to in the car.

"What is worrying is that motorists clearly aren't just driving in the car. On many occasions they are getting side-tracked by activities which should take place elsewhere."